Maybe we should ease up on the sunblock

Most of us are are aware that too much sun exposure can lead to wrinkles, sunspots and skin cancer. But how many of us have stopped to think about the benefits our bodies can derive from that beautiful ball of fire in the sky?

It is estimated that 70% of the population is deficient in vitamin D. And while we can get it in small quantities from food sources, such as fortified milk, cod liver oil, fatty salt-water fish, liver, butter and egg yolks, the vitamin D we produce in our own bodies via the sunshine is our most abundant source.

Yet most of us are afraid of the sun; we enjoy the light it shines on the earth and the warmth it provides, but we want its rays nowhere near our precious skin. We are conditioned to cover ourselves head to toe with SPF 30 before heading outdoors. We don’t want wrinkles; we don’t want sunspots; we certainly don’t want skin cancer.

Comments

A doctor diagnosed my sister-in-law with a Vitamin D deficiency. He had told her just what you say here, that most of us are deficient these days. That information has been niggling at my brain. Part of my menopausal symptoms include an overwhelming fatigue recently. I had begun to wonder about a relationship between too little Vitamin D and the fatigue. For the past couple months I have made it a priority to get outside about a half hour each day just in case. Your post seems to suggest that my hunch was probably a good one.
It never ceases to amaze me how many of the very same issues we all are wondering about and dealing with every day. How wonderful to find community via the internet.

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I am the proud mama of two wild, yet extremely lovable boys, a freelance communications consultant and a writer. Join me as I chronicle my journey towards being a better parent, staying healthy and calm, finding the positives in tough situations and laughing at life’s little comedies.